My Town

Osterloh never stopped learning

By Vytas Mazeika

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
06/20/2013 10:28:53 PM PDT

Updated:
06/20/2013 11:42:34 PM PDT

Liliah Osterloh won an NCAA singles championship. Not to mention three WTA doubles titles across the globe. But the 35-year-old needs to make room on her mantle for the latest prize, a Stanford degree.

"It really means the world to me," said Osterloh, who graduated Sunday. "I was fortunate enough as a freshman to win the NCAA team and individuals, and I was lucky enough to play on the pro tour. And I'm super excited when I was able to come back and earn my degree. I always promised myself that I would. I'm very proud of that accomplishment and I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life."

Osterloh is the ideal recruit for the Generation Gap Invitational, a USTA NorCal event that aims to bring together adults and the top players on the junior circuit. Hosted by Stanford, the action begins Saturday at 9 a.m.

"Playing at Stanford, it's a special place," said Osterloh, who returned multiple times to play in the Bank of the West Classic at Taube Family Tennis Stadium. "I remember playing Monica Seles. ... And I remember beating Marion Bartoli the year she made the final of Wimbledon. And, of course, winning the NCAA title here and the team championship, it's special. It's an amazing community with amazing supporters. I'm thrilled to return and give back to the community."

A native of Columbus, Ohio, she currently resides in Palo Alto. While taking 22 units this past quarter, Osterloh was a volunteer assistant coach with the Cardinal, which won the NCAA title this season.

Advertisement

"I would get out there like twice a week, and if I was lucky I would hit a little more on the weekends," Osterloh said. "But I'm still keeping up my fitness, running the dish every day. I'm feeling pretty good."

Osterloh went 30-3 during her singles career on The Farm and claimed the NCAA title as a freshman in 1997. She earned a berth in the U.S. Open that year and decided to turn pro.

"I'm gritty and I never give up," said Osterloh, who is known for her mental toughness and for hitting heavy groundstrokes.

On April 23, 2001, Osterloh reached her highest singles ranking on the WTA Tour at No. 41. But she doesn't feel like her talent peaked at that moment. Instead, Osterloh felt she was a better player closer to the end of her career than the beginning.

"That's one of the life lessons that tennis can teach you," Osterloh said. "You can always improve. We're all students of the game and we adapt to the technology. We're always learning. And the main thing of the game is staying healthy. As long as I have my hand in tennis, I think I will always be a student of the game and continue to learn."

In the span of a decade she won three WTA doubles titles:

2000 in Shanghai, China.

2007 in Auckland, New Zealand.

2010 in Osaka, Japan.

For someone who graduated with a degree in international relations, tennis provided a gateway to the rest of the world.

"It's really a dream come true," Osterloh said. "Tennis has taken me so many places I never thought I would be able to see. Being all over the world playing the sport that I love, I really appreciate all the support and all of my mentors throughout the years. I'm really fortunate and really blessed about that, so I'm just super happy to give back to the future generation coming up."

And while she is retired from the WTA, don't expect her to put away the racket for decades to come.

"My dad is turning 81 in November and my mom plays twice a day and she's in her 70s, so it truly is a lifetime sport," said Osterloh, who serves on the USTA Foundation Board. "As a junior, you can learn the basics and learn to master the basics. It's a sport that features character and community building and self belief. ... You'll have these life skills forever, and then pass it on from generation to generation. And I'm really fortunate to be a part of it."

The adults lost the inaugural Generation Gap Invitational, but Osterloh didn't take part in the event last year. Will she make the difference in the rematch?

"I will do my best," Osterloh said with a laugh. "As long as we're all learning from each other."